The Identity of Mediatization: Theorizing a Dynamic Field

Abstract

With the rapid expansion and visibility of mediatization research, the question of a common core, or identity, of the field becomes more pressing. This contribution reconstructs self-descriptions of the field and its theoretical premises and discusses ordering distinctions found in the literature. The analysis concludes that while some differences between conceptions have been exaggerated, important epistemological distinctions are still neglected. Based on a differentiated concept of the media, the article tries to uncover fundamental notions of mediatization theory that help identify core concerns of the field.